MURDERS BY NATIVES

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 September 1933, Page 5

MURDERS BY NATIVES

PUNITIVE PARTY CRITICISED.

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

MELBOURNE, September 4.

Rev. J. Burton, General Secretary of the Methodist Foreign Missions, has telegraphed a protest to the Prime Minister, Mr J. Lyons, against the proposed punitive expedition to Arnheim Land. Mr Burton fears that innocent blacks might suffer with the guilty.

GOVERNMENT DEFERS ACTION.

(Received September 5, 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, September 5.

The proposal to send a punitive expedition to Arnhemland, owing to the murders of Japanese and whites, has aroused many public protests. The Federal Cabinet, which considered yesterday, the steps to be taken, deferred a decision. The Ministers are convinced that strong action is needed, as the natives of Arnhem are responsible for crimes which they boast will be repeated,' if any whites come within the area set aside as a native reserve.

LABOUR PRESS COMMENT.

LONDON, September 4.

The “Daily Herald” gives prominence to the Brisbane message under the heading “Australian Punitive Expedition to Please Japan!” The paper states: “The fear of trouble with Japan may force the Commonwealth on Monday to sanction an expedition against the natives in Arnheim Land', which would involve much bloodshed. Apparently the Australian Government has not the courage to tell Japan that it can only protect Japanese who observe the law.”